What is Coltan? 5 Facts You Should Know

What is coltan? Here are five key facts about coltan you need to know, including where it’s mined, what it’s used for and why it’s important.

You might not have heard of coltan, but it’s probably present in products you use every day. From smartphones to laptops to medical equipment, coltan is key for a range of electronic devices.

However, the mineral is often the subject of controversy, given that it comes from the conflict-ridden Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). So what is coltan? Here are five key facts about coltan that you need to know.

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The US Geological Survey lists Brazil, Canada and Australia as the leading producers of tantalum and niobium mineral concentrates. However, in terms of mined tantalum production, Rwanda comes in first place (even though it’s an open secret that much of Rwanda’s mineral production comes from other countries), followed by the DRC. In these countries, coltan is often mined through artisanal operations.

2. What is coltan? It provides the tantalum used in smartphones

About two-thirds of tantalum is used to construct electronic capacitors, a fundamental component of cell phones and other electronics. Tantalum has contributed hugely to the miniaturization of handheld electronic devices as it allows electricity to be stored in small capacitors. In other words, coltan is a key component of modern life.

Tantalum is also extremely ductile and can be drawn into a thin wire. Because it causes no immune response in humans, it is also used to make surgical appliances, as a replacement for bone, as a connector of torn nerves and as a binding agent for muscles.

3. What is coltan? It’s mined by hand

Coltan may be an important mineral when it comes to electronics, but as mentioned above, the methods used to mine it are not modern at all. As a report from the Daily Mail explains, coltan is often mined by hand in the DRC, with rock and sand being panned and filtered until the mineral sinks to the bottom.

Even at the Luwow mine, now deemed a conflict-free mine, conditions are harsh. The Daily Mail states that 12-hour days are often required, and that “mine safety procedures are non-existent.”

4. What is coltan? It’s a conflict mineral

Many investors are no doubt aware of tantalum’s conflict mineral status, so it should come as no surprise that coltan falls under the same banner. According to ABC News, there are reports that neighboring countries, including Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi, smuggle coltan from the DRC to fund conflicts in the region, although all countries deny that is the case.

“By one estimate, the Rwandan army made at least $250 million over a period of 18 months through the sale of coltan, even though no coltan is mined in Rwanda,” states ABC.

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So where does all of this coltan end up? Its path is hard to trace, but regulatory authorities are doing their best to ensure that electronics companies are not funding conflict in the DRC by buying coltan.

For example, the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s conflict minerals rule, part of the Dodd-Frank Act, requires publicly traded manufacturers to disclose to investors whether any of the tantalum, tin, gold and tungsten used in their products may have originated in the DRC. Taking it a step further, European Parliament voted in May 2015 to move to ban all products containing conflict minerals.

That said, companies in the US have so far been slow to change how they handle imports of coltan and other conflict minerals. What’s more, the Dodd-Frank Act is currently slated for an overhaul under US President Donald Trump.

5. What is coltan? It’s harmful for gorillas

Coltan mining has also caused significant destruction of gorilla habitats in the DRC. As the UN Environment Program has reported, “the number of eastern lowland gorillas in eight Dem. Rep. of Congo national parks has declined by 90% over the past 5 years, and only 3,000 now remain.” Gorilla habitats have been reduced as forests are cleared to make way for mining operations.

In addition, the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada states that there have been reports of armed rebel groups and miners “eating meat from chimpanzees, gorillas, and elephants in the Kahuzi Biega National Park and on the Okapi Wildlife Reserve.”

Now that you know what coltan is, click here to check out where it’s mined.

This is an updated version of an article first published by the Investing News Network in 2015.

11 responses to “What is Coltan? 5 Facts You Should Know”

I have explored South America for 2 years and have located more than one source of Coltan. Looking for investors. If interested please contact me via email.
Bobby Baldwin
Elemental OperationsBCB@ElementalOperations.com

In order to reduce influx of Coltan from DRC, other countries needs to increase its production. I have seen the occurrence of Coltan in Ntungamo region of Uganda. But till now none of the organize sector has come forward to mine them. Recently a few company are trying to have modern washing plant but they need substantial quantity of water for washing. To provide water to these plants efforts should be made to build dams and store water and use during dry season.

In order to reduce influx of Coltan from DRC, other countries needs to increase its production. I have seen the occurrence of Coltan in Ntungamo region of Uganda. But till now none of the organize sector has come forward to mine them. Recently a few company are trying to have modern washing plant but they need substantial quantity of water for washing. To provide water to these plants efforts should be made to build dams and store water and use during dry season.

I find the coltan article very poorly written and out of date. While there may be some conflict material filtering into the system most coltan is produced just to earn a living in DRC. Coltan is also produced from many other parts of the world, not only DRC!

I find the coltan article very poorly written and out of date. While there may be some conflict material filtering into the system most coltan is produced just to earn a living in DRC. Coltan is also produced from many other parts of the world, not only DRC!

This article’s author doesn’t really know what is going on when it comes to coltan. Rwanda has zero ( 0 ) soldier in DRC, moreover, United Nations peace keepers brigades are all over DRC. When it comes to Rwanda’s mining sector, Rwanda does export a refined tantalun and coltan; mined and refined by the only and modern metal-refinery plant on African Continent built in Rwanda in 2018. The plant is operated by PLG Plc, Malta-based Metal technologies. Rwandan minerals are conflict-free, and entire process is treceable by UN – US bodies. The number one reason that put Rwanda on top of exporters list is: building a modern metal refinery plant in Rwanda, and that move was the game changer. There’s no such thing as ( open secret that Rwanda gets its minerals from DRC ). The secret is simply building techonologically advanced metal refinery in Rwanda. Plain and simple.